Chapter 686: You

"Comrade He, may you have a smooth journey!"

"But be careful!"

"Here is the map of the True Flame Immortal Sect—it's a few days' flight south from the southern city, same direction as the Youmingdigong!"

"Farewell!"

Master Mo Sang saw He Pingsheng off outside the merchant guild.

He Pingsheng bowed to him, then took hold of West Lake True Person and instantly teleported beyond the southern gate.

Hummm… hummm… hummm…

As soon as He Pingsheng arrived beyond the southern gate, a ripple of spatial distortion appeared, and Zhou Qingmei's figure materialized.

"No need to show yourself," He Pingsheng said to Zhou Qingmei. "Soon, some scoundrels will come chasing. If needed, you can emerge and give them a surprise."

"Yes!" Zhou Qingmei's body instantly vanished into the void.

He Pingsheng waved his hand and produced the supreme treasure, the Eight Treasures Boat.

This boat had only twelve sealing layers, so its flight speed naturally couldn't be too fast.

But it wasn't slow either!

A streak of light shot southward.

On the Eight Treasures Boat sat He Pingsheng and West Lake True Person.

"Are you feeling better now?" He Pingsheng asked West Lake True Person.

West Lake True Person nodded. "Yes… I thank you, Elder, for saving my life!"

"Don't call me Elder!" He Pingsheng smiled. "Let's treat each other as peers… By the way, I've always been worried about Li Yunyun and her brother—how are they?"

"Comrade He, you're mistaken!" West Lake True Person said. "Li Yunyun and her brother were ordinary mortals—they passed away over sixty years ago!"

"What?"

Hearing this, He Pingsheng was stunned.

Passed away?

Died of old age?

This…

For a moment, He Pingsheng couldn't accept it.

After all, the brother and sister who had appeared before him had still been young—especially Li Yunyun's brother, who had been just a few years old.

Time flies—had they really both passed away?

He Pingsheng took a deep breath and calculated carefully: from the moment he entered the Spirit Realm until now, one hundred and fifty-seven years had passed!

No wonder!

Time is merciless!

Without cultivation, an ordinary mortal is truly as insignificant as an ant!

Last time He Pingsheng went to the Youmingdigong, though he arrived twelve years late, he still trained inside the imperial palace for eighty-eight years.

A single imperial palace mystery was enough to span an ordinary human lifetime.

How tragic!

"Her brother and sister," West Lake True Person continued, "had many descendants in our Li family, a few with spiritual roots who reached Foundation Establishment—but recently our Li family was destroyed; disciples died or fled, and now no one knows what became of them!"

"I'm sorry," He Pingsheng said to West Lake True Person, his voice heavy with sorrow. "Your family's disaster may be connected to me."

It was almost certain now.

The destruction of the Li family was the work of the Heavenly Flame Divine Emperor, meant to find He Pingsheng.

"I don't care to investigate what really happened anymore," West Lake True Person said. "I only want to gather our Li family disciples and keep our lineage alive."

He Pingsheng looked at West Lake True Person and nodded. "You can count on it."

"Not only will I ensure your Li family thrives—I will tear apart every one of our shared enemies, one by one!"

"Hehe… as we speak, they've arrived!"

"Let me collect some interest first!"

He Pingsheng's will shifted, halting the Eight Treasures Boat in midair.

In the distance, a streak of light flew over and landed beside He Pingsheng.

The light resolved into a young man dressed in white robes.

His gaze was filled with greed, openly scanning West Lake True Person from head to toe, saliva nearly dripping.

He Pingsheng didn't know this man personally, but he knew who he was.

Prince Hu Tianci of the White Tiger Clan!

The person he'd been waiting for hadn't come—but this fool showed up instead.

What?

Really planning to kill and steal?

"Hey, you brat…" Hu Tianci stood in midair, pointing at He Pingsheng. "You know who I am, right?"

He Pingsheng nodded. "Yes. You're the White Tiger Clan's prince."

"Correct!" Hu Tianci grinned. "I am the White Tiger Prince. Today, you've struck great fortune!"

"Here's the deal…" Hu Tianci suddenly closed his folding fan and pointed it directly at West Lake True Person beside He Pingsheng. "I want this female slave. You insolent fool, how dare you bid against me at the auction?"

"Hehe… I'm in a good mood today. Leave this woman with me, and you can walk away with your life."

No sooner had he finished than Hu Tianci regretted it: "Wait… I recall—you bought a【Dragon Eye Immortal Lychee】at the auction, didn't you? And didn't you also obtain the【Origin of Time】?"

"Is that true?"

The【Dragon Eye Immortal Lychee】had been bought by He Pingsheng in plain sight—everyone knew.

But the【Origin of Time】hadn't been secured until later, so Hu Tianci was only guessing.

Yet He Pingsheng nodded with surprising honesty, then pulled out the Origin of Time himself, holding it up and waving it twice in the air. "Correct. This item is indeed in my possession."

Seeing the silver bottle, Hu Tianci's greed intensified.

He laughed loudly. "Good, good, good! You're sensible. Hand over the【Origin of Time】and this woman. Keep the【Dragon Eye Immortal Lychee】for yourself—now go!"

He Pingsheng tucked the【Origin of Time】away again, a faint sneer on his face. "You want the item and the woman? Fine. But tell me—what price are you willing to pay, White Tiger Prince?"

"Price?" Hu Tianci's face darkened. "You dare bargain with me?"

"Boy, don't you know that if I kill you, both the item and the woman become mine?"

He Pingsheng gestured around. "In broad daylight, you dare commit murder?"

"Why not?" Hu Tianci grinned, staring at He Pingsheng. "Don't worry—this place is too far from the Zhu Que Imperial City. This wasteland sees no travelers for half a year or more!"

"If I kill you here, no one will ever know."

He Pingsheng's face remained calm. He waved his hand and pulled out a purple-red staff. "Then congratulations, Prince. You've chosen yourself a fine grave."

A vast aura erupted from the staff.

The purple-red staff instantly expanded to three hundred zhang in length.

"What?" The White Tiger Prince staggered back, but quickly steadied himself, barking: "A mere Soul Transformation insect dares to attack the Prince?"

The White Tiger Prince had merely been startled.

In his eyes, He Pingsheng was still just a Soul Transformation insect.